Fast Ignition in Magnetized Plasmas

In fast-ignition inertial confinement fusion, ignitor heating must outpace hotspot expansion and cooling. Applying a strong magnetic field confines the hotspot and suppresses multiple energy loss mechanisms, leading to considerable energy savings. Hotspot energy dynamics are investigated for varying magnetic field strengths in a cylindrical geometry, and the required ignitor energies are calculated. Magnetization of electrons suppresses thermal conduction losses, and magnetic pressure confines the hotspot, reducing PdV losses and allowing for faster heating. Furthermore, end losses and axial expansion are suppressed by a magnetic mirroring effect. This combination of effects allows for much easier fast ignition in the presence of a strong magnetic field.